Dr. Steve Gallon III

Dr. Steve Gallon III is the Miami-Dade County Commissioner-Elect for District 1 and former District 1 School Board Member for Miami-Dade County Public Schools. After serving on the School Board since his election in 2016 and being re-elected unopposed in 2020 and 2024, Dr. Gallon was elected without opposition to the Miami-Dade County Commission and will assume office in January 2027. He brings nearly four decades of distinguished leadership and public service as a classroom teacher, principal, district administrator, Superintendent of Schools, elected School Board Member, author, documentary film executive producer, and community advocate.

A Magna Cum Laude graduate of Florida A&M University in just three years, Dr. Gallon became the first of his six siblings to graduate from college. He earned both his Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Educational Leadership and Administration from Florida International University and completed postdoctoral leadership institutes in educational leadership, school reform, and management at Harvard University and Stanford University.

Throughout his career, Dr. Gallon has been recognized as an innovative educational leader committed to improving opportunities and outcomes for children, families, and communities. He served as principal of Holmes Elementary School, where the school was removed from Florida’s list of critically low-performing schools following dramatic academic gains, and later served seven years as principal of Miami Northwestern Senior High School, earning one of the longest principal tenures in the school’s history. In 2008, following a nationwide search, he was unanimously selected as Superintendent of Schools in Plainfield, New Jersey, becoming the first Black administrator to rise through the ranks of Miami-Dade County Public Schools to become a school superintendent.

During his decade of service on the Miami-Dade County School Board, Dr. Gallon sponsored and advanced more than 100 Board agenda items focused on educational reform, student achievement, school safety, accountability, equity, and organizational excellence. His leadership helped secure voter approval of the 2018 and 2022 school district referendums, generating more than $2 billion in funding for teacher compensation and school safety initiatives. Under his leadership, District 1 transformed from having the highest number of failing schools in 2016 to having no failing schools, with more than 75 percent of its schools now earning A or B school grades.

Nationally recognized for his leadership in urban education, Dr. Gallon received the National School Boards Association’s prestigious Benjamin Elijah Mays Lifetime Achievement Award and later served as Chair of its Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE), representing urban school districts across the nation. He also served as Vice Chair of the Miami-Dade County School Board and has provided leadership on numerous local, state, and national educational initiatives.

A respected voice on education, public policy, leadership, and community issues, Dr. Gallon has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, and numerous local and national media outlets. He is a sought-after keynote speaker, lecturer, and leadership presenter, addressing audiences throughout the United States on education, governance, leadership, equity, and community transformation.

Beyond public service, Dr. Gallon is an accomplished author whose published works include Educating with Love and Without Compromise, When Morning Comes, and Light Found in the Dark. He is also the creator, producer, and host of Real Talk with Dr. Steve Gallon III, a public affairs program examining education and issues affecting communities.

An advocate for arts and culture, Dr. Gallon has served as Executive Producer of multiple documentary films, including The Mecca: Legends of Traz Powell Stadium, which premiered during the 2026 Miami Film Festival and chronicles the rich athletic, educational, and cultural legacy of one of South Florida’s most historic venues. His work as an executive producer reflects his commitment to preserving the history, stories, and achievements of historically significant communities and institutions.

His distinguished leadership and lifetime service have earned numerous local, state, and national honors, including the Benjamin Elijah Mays Lifetime Achievement Award from the National School Boards Association; the 2022 Florida School Boards Association President’s Award for Unparalleled Leadership and Courage; the 2025 National Council of Negro Women Man of Honor Award; the 2025 Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce Garth C. Reeves Sr. Citizen of the Year Award; the 2026 Champion for Education Award from the Miami-Dade NAACP Youth Council; and the 2026 Man of the Year Award presented by the City of Miami Gardens during its Juneteenth Legacy in Black Gala in recognition of his extraordinary commitment to education, leadership, and community service.

A longtime resident of Miami Gardens, Dr. Gallon remains deeply committed to faith, family, public service, and community engagement. He is a proud member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.

As Miami-Dade County Commissioner-Elect, Dr. Gallon continues a lifetime devoted to expanding educational opportunity, strengthening neighborhoods, promoting economic development, supporting children and families, and improving the quality of life for all residents of Miami-Dade County. His career has been defined by visionary leadership, unwavering integrity, and an enduring commitment to leaving every community stronger than he found it.